Testing-plug for pipe-mains.



No. 821,223. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

P. J. COLEMAN.

TE$TING PLUG POE PIPE MAINS.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1905.

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, Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 5, 1905- Serial No. 277.010.

Patented May 22, 1906.

To all rah-m it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. COLEMAN,

. a citizen of the United States, residing at Bristol, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Testing-Plugs for Pipe-Mains, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in testing-plugs for pipe-mains; and the objects of my invention are to provide simple, convenient, and efficient means for testing the main in the trenches before the trenches are filled and for puddling the trenches when they are being filled.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of one end. of a pipe-main with my plug applied thereto, the stand-pipe of the plug being removed. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same, on the line as w of Fig. 1, the stand-pipe being in place. Fig. 3 is a broken side elevation of the clamp andone of its bolts. Fig. 4 is a detached end view of the plug in a modified form.

A designates the bell-mouthed end of an ordinary pipe-main, the bell-mouth or end 5 of which is of a larger bore than that of the body 6, while there is an internal shoulder 7 and external shoulder 14 intermediate the body and end. The plug B is cast hollow, with a body 8, having a closed and solid outer end, whichbody is a little longer than the bellmouth or end 5, so as to leave room in its side for a suitable connection or socket 9 for the stand-pipe 10. An extension 11 projects fromthe inner end of the plug, and the said extension and inner end .of the body f the plug are of a diameterto be received in thebores of the body and end of the pipemain and have an external shoulder 12 at their junction, so that the lug may be inserted, witha packing-washer 13, between the shoulders 7 and 12, as shown in'Fig. 2, the plug entering and substantially filling the bore of both the body and end of the pipemain. In order to hold the plug in place and also to firmly compress the shoulders 7 and 12 on the packing-washer 13, I employ a twopart clam 15, each part being substantially a semicirc e in edge view, with ears 16 at the ends, so that said parts may be placed upon the pipe just back of the external shoulder 14 and secured together by bolts 17 through the said ears. The bolts are provided with suitable nuts 18 or equivalent screw-tightening device and are extended to the outer end of the plug and through a strap 19 for securing the plug, as shown. As a substitute for the strap the plug 1B may be provided with per forated ears 19 Fig. 4. The stand-pipe 10,

which projects upwardly from the main and plug, may be extended to any desired'height and is provided with any ordinary cut-off valve 20 and a pipe 21 or' other ordinary provision for the attachment of a hose.

After a section of the main of any desired length'has been laid in the'trenches and connected ready for testing the plug is inserted and secured, as before described, the cut-off valve 20 being closed. Suitablebraces may alsobe placed in the trench to bear against the outer end of the plug to prevent the main I from moving endwise and loosening the joints. It may here be noted that the standpipe projects from the side instead of the end of the plug, thereby leaving ample provision for bracing-the main against the end face of the plu then be et into the section so laid before the trenches are filled, so that if there are any leaks they may be readily discovered and repaired. VVhen the pipe is ready for filling the trench, water may be supplied through the stand-pipe and suitable hose to puddle the trench while it is beingfilled.

' I claim as my invention 1. A testing-plug for pipe-mains having a hollow body and reduced end with a shoulder between, the said body and end being adapted for entering the bell-mouth and body of a pipe-main, the body of the said plug extending outwardly beyond the bell-mouth with a pipe connection in its side and with a closed outer end while its innerend opens into the said main.

2. Atesting-plug for pipe-mains, havinga hollow body and reduced end with a shoulder between, the said body and-end being adapted for entering the bell-mouth and end of a pipe-main into which its inner end opens, a two-part clamp fitted to the externa shoulder of the said pipe-main and bolts extending If a water-main, the water may I forwardly from the said clamp to the outer erlid of the said plug for holding the'plug in p ace.

-3. The combination of a pipe-main with a 5 hollow testing-plug fitted to the end of the said main, the said plug projecting beyond the said main and having a closed outer end,

sald plug and pipe-main together. l PATRICK J. COLEMAN.

i Witnesses:

CHARLES L. WOODING, FRANK E. DODGE. 

